Game of Thrones had been promising its fans a huge season finale, and they more than kept their promise Sunday night. Particularly on the body count, which far exceeded any other episode in killing off key players in this Game of Thrones . It was non-stop death, death, and still more death. If you haven’t seen the episode yet, suffice it to say huge spoilers follow.
Not even five minutes after the opening credits, Game of Thrones fans had their first character death, as Selyse (Tara Fitzgerald) hung herself after watching her daughter, Shireen (Kerry Ingram), burn alive last week. This news came on the heels of Stannis (Stephen Dillane) learning he had lost half of his men to desertion overnight. So much for that sacrifice of his own daughter helping him out. Stannis marched forward with what was left of his troops to Winterfell. As Stannis began instructions to his men to set up for their siege of Winterfell, Winterfell and the Boltons came to them. Oopsy.
While Stannis’ troops were being slaughtered, Sansa (Sophie Turner) finally figured out she should maybe light a candle in the tower herself instead of asking Theon (Alfie Allen), who ratted her out. The candle came too late, as with the battle outside Winterfell, Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) had already figured out she needed to take action. After stumbling across a wounded Stannis, Brienne pronounced judgment and carried out sentencing. Or presumably did, as they didn’t actually show her killing Stannis, just drawing her sword for execution.
Bye-bye Stannis. That brought the Game of Thrones body count to Selsye, Stannis, and his army.
Then, Theon actually re-grew a pair and saved Sansa from that mouthy wench her husband kept on the side, throwing her off the wall when she had her bow drawn on Sansa taunting her about how Ramsay (Iwan Rheon) would torture her till he had an heir or two and could be rid of her. Theon stepping up was long overdue on Game of Thrones , but now that he had also disobeyed Ramsay, they both had to try to escape, jumping off a wall. Theon and Sansa jumped off the wall, which appeared a bit high for survival, but GoT fans were left with the presumption they escaped, as the snow would pad their fall.
Then Game of Thrones cut right to Arya (Maisie Williams), posing as one of the underage girls served up to Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie) so she could stab him repeatedly and slit his throat. Unfortunately, by assassinating the wrong man, she earned the wrath of the Faceless Man and was struck blind.
They were dying off on Game of Thrones faster than the story could be told.
In Dorne, Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) set sail with Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), with a farewell kiss from Ellaria (Indira Varma). On their journey, Myrcella told Jaime she knew he was actually her father, right before she began bleeding from her nostrils… the Sand Snakes accomplished their mission after all. Ellaria and the Sand Snakes watched from the shore, with them giving Ellaria the antidote to the poison as she began to bleed.
So that was Selyse, Stannis, Stannis’ army, Myranda, and Myrcella dead. And Game of Thrones was only halfway through the finale.
As Game of Thrones fan Matt Phillips ? @ Matt_Phillips93 tweeted:
“The # GameofThronesFinale is blowing my mind. So many huge characters dying, I can’t even keep count. Omg this show.”
Dany’s (Emilia Clarke) entourage moped around the throne room waiting for her return, while she was stranded with her sleepy dragon. While searching for a bit to eat in the middle of nowhere, she was surrounded by the Dothraki, galloping around her on their horses while whooping. Are they friend or foe without Khal Drogo? You’ll have to wait till next season to find out.
Then Game of Thrones fans got to see Cersei (Lena Headey) take her Walk of Atonement, going full frontal through the streets of King’s Landing with all her beautiful blonde locks cut off. As the people spit on her and threw feces on her, she limped back to her castle on bloody feet. But oh, the murder in her eyes — Game of Thrones fans can count on a reckoning coming for this humiliation.
Cersei may think she’s hit rock bottom, but she still hasn’t gotten news of her daughter’s death. Imagine the wrath Game of Thrones fans will see next season.
Last, but not least, Game of Thrones fans who have read the books were not surprised by the betrayal of Jon Snow (Kit Harington) by his own brothers of the Night Watch, but fans unaware of his fate in the last novel were reeling from his death as multiple Night’s Watch brothers stabbed him, saying “For the Watch.” The final blow came from that creepy kid Olly (Brenock O’Connor), who can’t get over Jon helping the Wildlings.
Et tu , Olly?
Juan Lozano ? @ juanlozano70 tweeted:
“At this point I’m starting to believe that I could get killed off while watching # GameofThrones “
For Game of Thrones fans wondering if Jon Snow really died, Harington confirmed his death in an interview with Entertainment Weekly posted after the episode aired. So yes, Jon Snow really is dead, at least on the television series.
“This is my understanding of it. I had a sit-down with Dan and David, we did the Tony Soprano walk [letting an actor know they’re being whacked]. And they said, ‘Look, you’re gone, it’s done.’”
And with that, Game of Thrones fans must wait the long months for Season 6. What did you think of the season finale of Game of Thrones ?